Method for efficiently delivering liquid argon to a furnace by re-condensation in a phase separator

Abstract

A method of improving the efficiency in delivery of a cryogenic liquid to the surface of a metal body in a furnace, the method comprising the steps of delivering a liquid cryogen ( 10, 20 ) to a liquid-gas phase separator ( 30 ), allowing a gaseous cryogen ( 45 ) present in a liquid phase ( 40 ) of the liquid cryogen to separate from the liquid cryogen ( 40 ), condensing ( 60, 70, 80 ) the gaseous cryogen ( 45 ) to an additional amount of liquid cryogen ( 40 ), delivering the liquid cryogen and the additional amount of liquid cryogen ( 50 ) to the surface of a metal body in a furnace.

1 . A method of improving the efficiency in delivery of a cryogenic liquid to the surface of a metal body in a furnace, the method comprising the steps of:
 a) delivering a liquid cryogen ( 10 ,  20 ) to a liquid-gas phase separator ( 30 ),   b) allowing a gaseous cryogen ( 45 ) present in a liquid phase ( 40 ) of the liquid cryogen to separate from the liquid cryogen ( 40 ),   c) condensing ( 60 ,  70 ,  80 ) the gaseous cryogen ( 45 ) to an additional amount of liquid cryogen ( 40 ),   d) delivering the liquid cryogen and the additional amount of liquid cryogen ( 50 ) to the surface of a metal body in a furnace.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid cryogen ( 10 ) is at least 90% pure Argon such as industrial grade purity Argon. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the condensation step c) is performed by a heat exchange ( 80 ) with liquid Nitrogen ( 60 ,  70 ). 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchange is performed by flowing the liquid Nitrogen ( 60 ,  70 ) through a heat exchange device ( 80 ) in thermal communication with the gaseous Argon within the phase separator. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchange device ( 80 ) is a condensation coil. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the condensation coil ( 80 ) is also in thermal communication with the liquid Argon ( 40 ) within the phase separator ( 30 ). 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid Nitrogen ( 80 ) is at a temperature between the freezing point and the boiling point of the liquid Argon ( 40 ). 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid Nitrogen ( 80 ) is at a temperature within a ±2 degrees C. range around the temperature half way between the freezing point and the boiling point of the liquid Argon ( 40 ). 
     
     
         9 . A phase separator apparatus for delivery of liquid cryogen to a body of metal in a furnace, the apparatus comprising:
 a) a chamber ( 30 ) adapted to retain and hold a volume of a liquid cryogen ( 40 ) and further adapted to permit the separation of a gaseous cryogen ( 45 ) from the liquid cryogen ( 40 ),   b) an inlet ( 20 ),   c) an outlet ( 50 ) configured to emit the liquid cryogen ( 40 ) to the surface of a metal body in a furnace,   d) a heat exchange device ( 80 ,  90 ) within the chamber, the heat exchange device ( 80 ,  90 ) being capable of condensing the gaseous cryogen ( 45 ) into a liquid cryogen ( 40 ).   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the liquid cryogen ( 10 ,  40 ) is at least 90% pure Argon such as industrial grade purity Argon. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the heat exchange device is a condensation coil ( 80 ) containing liquid Nitrogen ( 60 ,  70 ).